Two Blues fall one point short in thriller

WINNING, we are told, is everything when it comes to sport, but sometimes there is valour in defeat.

So it was for Prahran Assumption which failed by a solitary point in a Saturday thriller at Kew, 14-9 to 14-10.

In a frantic final quarter which saw the Two Blues kick six goals the game finally looked lost when Kew won a free kick with 20 seconds left on the clock.

But a superb Ethan Plaza smother from behind saw the ball turned over, with seconds remaining Shaun Chapman and his opponent went stride for stride in a foot race as the ball headed towards goal with a rushed behind as the siren sounded.

This was a high quality contest in perfect conditions, worthy of a mid-season final, with momentum swings throughout with Kew’s running game pitted against the Two Blues more dour stoppage game.

But as coach Brett Dickinson told his troops post match, a tardy start proved telling- as it was in the drawn match against Old Camberwell.

The defeat means the Two Blues fell to fifth on the ladder with games against top three teams PEGS and Oakleigh to come.

After a tight opening which featured some superb intercept marking by Jayden Williams, Kew took early control with two time-on goals in the first quarter.

After a long goal on the run from Jon Simonetta to open the second quarter, Kew promptly goaled twice within a minute.

But just when the Two Blues appeared to be wilting, they rallied with goals to Ethan Plaza, Matthew Noonan and Matthew Clifford levelling scores. A Kew crumbing goal just before the siren gave the home team a six point lead.

Clifford and Noonan opened the third term with goals to give the Two Blues the lead for the first time in the match.

But again the momentum swung as Kew slammed on four unanswered goals, two from free kicks, to take a 17 point lead.

The first goal of the last quarter was a must for the Two Blues and Shaun Chapman duly delivered with a centre square clearance and pass to Rory Brodie who goaled.

Kew replied within a minute but the Two Blues were up for the fight with a classy dribble goal from the boundary line by Plaza,

Chapman threatened to become the match winner as he went forward and goaled twice .

When Joel Hume passed to Clifford for another goal the margin had been trimmed to four points.

Kew steadied with a goal at the 24 minute mark to lead by 10 points.

Then Chapman marked in the goal square to goal at the 28 minute mark before that frantic final few minutes.

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 1-4 6-4 8-6 14-9 (93)
KEW. 3-3 7-4 11-7 14-10 (94)
Goals. Clifford 5, Chapman 3, M Noonan, Plaza 2, Simonetta, Brodie.
Best. Williams, Chapman, Clifford, M Noonan, Simonetta, Musster.

RESERVES
AFTER a promising start and a first quarter lead, the Two Blues were swamped ladder leader Kew.

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 3-1 3-2 5-4 6-4 (40)
KEW 2-3 8-8 14-11 20-15 (135)
Goals. Campbell 3, M Capra, Forrestall, Taylor,
Best. S Capra, Bowes, M Capra, J Matherson, Juricic, Panagiatoros.

THIRDS
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION 0-2 2-5 2-6 4-6 (30)
WEST BRUNSWICK 2-1 5-3 8-5 14-7 (91)